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| Creativity, Craft & Connection: Attitudes & Strategies to Grow a Writer's Brain Have you put in your 10,000 hours? |
Writers, have you noticed the tab “Grow a Writer’s Brain” at the top of this blog? It links to a new permanent page which features my paradigm for sustained creative process – the visual you see here – and links to previous blog posts that explain and explore what it means. The idea is to make this practical encouragement easily accessible. Here is how the page begins:
Behind writer tips of the day, what are the deeper attitudes and strategies that not only foster creativity, but sustain it over the long haul? Or more simply, What do we pay attention to, and how do we do it? This nine-pointed star is a handy mnemonic that highlights key areas for attention. Think of it as a motion-stop frame of a dynamic, ongoing process that fairly crackles with energy. At its heart is KNOWLEDGE – ENDEAVOR – NETWORK. It draws support from science, the arts, and Baha’i writings.
What does it look like in real life? Writers discover new levels of learning and insight as we revisit familiar practices: write on a regular basis, learn more about our craft and our self, network with writers engaged in the learning process.
The exciting thing is that, with every venture into new territory, the brain creates and strengthens new synapses of learning. The more awareness I bring to the process, the more systematically I engage in new learning, the more certain it is that I will not only connect with my creative spirit, but also grow a writer’s brain!
Click through the Grow a Writer’s Brain tab at the top of this blog for links to the blog posts in which I open up the paradigm in more detail -- posts like You Get the Brain You Choose; Does it make you want to write? or Writers & Creative Process: What’s science got to do with it? Of course what will make it all the more interesting -- as with any conversation -- are your own questions and comments. And if you like it, please do share it.
Behind writer tips of the day, what are the deeper attitudes and strategies that not only foster creativity, but sustain it over the long haul? Or more simply, What do we pay attention to, and how do we do it? This nine-pointed star is a handy mnemonic that highlights key areas for attention. Think of it as a motion-stop frame of a dynamic, ongoing process that fairly crackles with energy. At its heart is KNOWLEDGE – ENDEAVOR – NETWORK. It draws support from science, the arts, and Baha’i writings.
What does it look like in real life? Writers discover new levels of learning and insight as we revisit familiar practices: write on a regular basis, learn more about our craft and our self, network with writers engaged in the learning process.
The exciting thing is that, with every venture into new territory, the brain creates and strengthens new synapses of learning. The more awareness I bring to the process, the more systematically I engage in new learning, the more certain it is that I will not only connect with my creative spirit, but also grow a writer’s brain!
Click through the Grow a Writer’s Brain tab at the top of this blog for links to the blog posts in which I open up the paradigm in more detail -- posts like You Get the Brain You Choose; Does it make you want to write? or Writers & Creative Process: What’s science got to do with it? Of course what will make it all the more interesting -- as with any conversation -- are your own questions and comments. And if you like it, please do share it.
This blog is amazing. Thank you and thank you again! (now, go to your room and make writing!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear friend. And yes, indeed, that is exactly what I am doing!
ReplyDeleteThe Balance of the Poet ©
ReplyDeleteHeidi Lerner Gray Matters www.graymatters4u.com
Semantic adventurer,
Warrioress of thought,
Pulling from the parts,
Yet envisioning the whole.
Stanzas of planned format,
Leap out of the page at you
In spontaneous meaning.
Linguistic artist,
Imprints her mind on the page,
Imagine that…
Her brush of thought,
Paints feelings.
With a plan to be spontaneous.
Her words show color,
Shaded by grammatics,
She paints an abstract mural,
Readers drink it in,
Enjoy and comprehend.
Simultaneous designs,
Approach their minds.
Subconscious infiltration -
She plays educational twister.
Words are her allies,
Thoughts are the pieces of the puzzle,
And she is the Master Puzzle-Maker.
What a delightful read! Many thanks, Heidi, for sharing your thoughts in poetry. My warmest wishes to you in all of your creative endeavors.
ReplyDelete